Kylie Firmin '26
At Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, students in grades K-12 express themselves in various ways. They can choose to express themselves through sports, body language, music, or fashion.
Fashion helps you express your emotions and show your true identity. You can create a signature look, dress up for different occasions, and experiment with new designs or colors.
Recently, fashion trends have changed quickly with the influx of social media. However, there are a few timeless staples in every teen’s wardrobe. According to Chain Store Age, “The top clothing brands are Nike (34%), American Eagle (6%), Lululemon (5%), Shein (3%), and Hollister (3%).”
I interviewed two AFS students, Amaya Manigault ‘26 and Adyen Austin ‘26 to see which brands they prefer.
What is your favorite fashion brand, and why?
Manigault said, “I like Zara because they have a modest selection of clothes. The brand lets me experiment with different styles and be versatile.”
Austin said , “I like Nike because it is simple yet efficient! They have a good winter and summer selection and they have stylish outfits for sports.”
What are your favorite fashion trends, and why?
Austin said, “My favorite fashion trends right now are work wear and bold color combinations. For example, pink and green, or mixing gold and silver jewelry together.”
Manigault said , “I agree, because I like outfits where the top and bottom contrast to complement each other. Also, I like linen pants and the off-the-shoulder look.”
What are your least favorite fashion trends, and why?
Both Austin and Manigault said, , “Our least favorite fashion trend is when people wear two items of clothes that are in two different seasons. For instance, jean shorts, or jorts, and uggs.”
According to Wonderopolis, “Over time, the new [fashion] replaces the old. People are influenced by pop culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, and royalty. They also pay attention to what people wear in popular films, television shows, online videos, books, and music. We are influenced by the fashion industry’s advertising.”
Fashion is important to our society because clothes play a role in how you look at someone and they help frame the idea of what we think of their personality. Overall, fashion helps bond people together in any environment.